New sensor network with AI robots will improve composting safety and efficiency
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Composting turns organic waste into nutrient-rich material, but improper temperature and moisture control can allow pathogens to survive and increase safety risks. Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and UT Knoxville have received a $362,000 grant from the Center for Produce Safety to develop an automated sensor network to improve monitoring of compost piles.
Sensors will be developed for placement directly within piles, eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual testing processes. Aerial drones equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technologies will collect data from the new sensors, mapping precise locations of temperature and moisture variations. Machine learning algorithms will then analyze the data, displaying information on a digital dashboard to help compost operators improve turning schedules and ensure uniform heating.
Chetan Badgujar, project lead and agricultural engineer in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, says the new system will support data-driven decision making. “Cold spots within a compost pile allow harmful pathogens to survive, while hot spots increase combustion risks. Our battery-free sensors will cost approximately $4 each, almost 90% cheaper than existing automated solutions. We want to save composters time and money in their day-to-day operations while still meeting FDA standards for safety.”
The developed system will be tested during five composting cycles at two Tennessee facilities, ensuring real-world application for capturing temperature variations, reducing labor costs and improving regulatory recordkeeping and compliance.
Badgujar will serve as principal investigator on the project, along with co-principal investigators Shawn Hawkins, head of the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, and Sai Swaminathan, assistant professor in the Tickle College of Engineering at UT Knoxville. Swaminathan will lead the development of the battery-free sensor systems used in the project.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.